Fall is in the air while I’m writing this — in August! Trapping season is just around the corner. By the time you read this, the Fall Rendezvous will be history. I attended as many district rendezvous as I could, and I thought the turnout at each was good. The directors and the members did a good job.

Russ Warmka worked the Farm Technology booth, and did a good job there as well.

Along with other trappers, I had the privilege of witnessing Governor Doyle sign the Green Fur Bill into law. It took effect on Aug. 28 of this year. After 11 years of hashing out details, it was satisfying to see it become law. Scott Gunderson and Ann Hraychuck were instrumental in continuing the movement of the bill.

The October Board of Director’s Meeting has been changed to Oct. 10,2009. The location is the Fremont Town Hall beginning at 9 a.m. I encourage all to please attend.

Be alert to changes in trapping regulations. One change involves the trap tag. We can use our name and address, as before, or our DNR customer number instead. However, each trapper using that trap must have his name and address or DNR number on the trap tag.

It is also legal to use live traps in the marten areas. You can either turn the marten loose or contact a warden to tag it.

Watch out for illegal trap sets. One problem catch can cause a lot of bad PR.

Remember to please turn in any incidental catches. We need to know about them in order to get a better handle on area population.

Have a productive trapping season and stay safe.

— Virgil Schroeder

DISTRICT 9 REPORT

District 9 had our meeting on Aug. 15 following a great highway pick up. We had 11 people show up for the event. This really makes it fun and easy with all the help.

Of course, if you were Howard Fritsch, it was a profitable day as he found a $50 bill. We should thank all those involved that work on getting the name tags changed to using only our DNR number. And getting the green fur bill passed. We would like to thank all those who helped out at Marshfield.

Also very important is that we are starting something new with our District. Patrice Rhodes wants all District 9 members to send her your e-mail. Once we have this system in place, we will send an e-mail to update the members on upcoming events or alerts. Thanks to Patrice for stepping up and volunteering to do this. March 6, 2010, will be our next meeting. It will be in Woodman.

We had a few meetings there in the past. We will put in directions at a future date. This will be very important meeting to let the members know what our responsibility is for the Nationals in Marshfield. It will also be potluck. Starting at 10 a.m. Thanks again to the members that step and help our district run.

Also at our spring meeting we will have a silent action and raffles. Some of the things already donated are beaver traps and a Canadian Rudy wolf trap. If you have something to donate, let Dennis know and he will get it advertised. Thanks and have a trapping season.

— Your Gang at District 9

DISTRICT 10 REPORT

District 10 held our summer rendezvous at the Edgerton Conservation Club on Aug. 22, 2009. The day was termed a perfect day by the Wisconsin State Journal and it seemed just that. Sun, cool temperatures and a slight breeze kept the many attendees comfortable. We had demos that ran all day and I received many compliments on what a nice job the presenters did. Thank you to all of you. We had three vendors and several tailgaters, so trapping supplies were easy to find. Thank you also to our vendors for the generous contributions to our raffle.

The Edgerton Conservation Club hosted a fine lunch of hamburgers and brats and we thank them for use of the grounds. Larry Meyer held a Trappers Education course the previous Saturday and on the day of our rendezvous.

During the business meeting we discussed progress of the scholarship committee. They plan to have a scholarship for an upper classman in natural resources ready to go by fall 2010. We reaffirmed gifts from our district to the Pheasants Forever Outdoor Sports Day, Fur Takers Association, and traps for our Trappers Ed. Graduates. We voted to support research by Mandie Cyr at UW Stevens Point on disease of raccoon and coyotes for the coming year. And finally, we voted to give a gift to the WTA for posting of the marten restoration areas.

Now that Virgil Schroeder is our WTA president, we voted Pat Varney to be our new co-director with Scot Stewart. I appreciate the help, Pat.

We held our raffle in the afternoon and made some trappers very happy with their winnings. We also held the drawing for our 50:50 ’coon raffle. Randy Onsager was the lucky winner of the ’coon raffle. We will hold it again this coming year. All you need to do is donate at least one raccoon at NAFA and tell Virgil Schroeder that it is for the District 10 WTA 50:50 raffle. There is no limit on the number of raccoon you enter. Your chances of winning increase with each raccoon.

The District 10 winter meeting will be held on March 6, 2010, at NAFA in Stoughton. The next summer rendezvous will be held on Aug. 21, 2010, at the Delevan Sportsman’s Club. Plan to join us for a good time, good food and good friends.

District 10 is responsible for the demonstration area at Marshfield along with District 8. We hope you will help and we know that we will have a good time.

I hope this update finds you well. See you in Marshfield.

— Scot Stewart

DISTRICT 11 REPORT

Greetings District 11 members,

By the time you read this report, we will have concluded our 2009 Fall WTA state rendezvous. I hope those of you who had the opportunity to attend the rendezvous had a great time. Likewise, I hope the summer has also been a pleasant one for you and your family. The kids are back in school, the nights are getting colder and the hunting and trapping season is just around the corner. The time is now to repair and dye the traps, to check all of your equipment and get your hunting gear in order. This is the time of year we come alive and come out of our hibernation caves and our coma-state and being to shine. So don’t procrastinate, get ready, the season’s a coming’.

As discussed in my previous reports, were are looking forward to a 2010 district rendezvous. I am happy to report that so far things are going well. We have a couple of sites we’re looking at right now. However, with nothing confirmed as of yet, I’m not willing to disclose the venue sites. I will be meeting and discussing the sites with all of the county directors before making a final decision.

What I can tell you, is that I have been receiving a very positive response regarding the 2010 rendezvous. Members have been contacting me with comments, suggestions and even offering their assistance for the event. In the next report, I will have more to information to report on, in regard to the rendezvous. I will also begin the “official sign-up sheet” looking for volunteers. I can promise you, that we will work very diligently to have more raffles, more prizes, vendors, demos and events.

But realize this, the more help we get from you, our members, the more we will be able to accomplish. I know that these reports sound redundant, but in order to make any event successful, it will take a complete team effort. This also means that we will have to not lose sight of the fact that the WTA state also needs our help and support regarding volunteers for the 2010 NTA rendezvous that we will be hosting. You have a whole year to plan on how you can show your support and volunteer.

Look for next month’s report where I will outline some of the events and duties needed in order to successfully have a 2010 District 11 rendezvous. Until next month, get ready, be safe and have fun.